Global Social Leaders statement on AI

We recognise the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI).  

In partnership with leading educators in the field of AI, Future Foundations is actively exploring ways to support our Global Social Leaders (GSL) membership community to embrace AI technology and develop the necessary skills and knowledge to equip their students to integrate it into their projects to increase their social impact.  At the same time, we understand that the use of AI tools comes with potential risks and impacts that need to be managed.

GSL offers the opportunity for young people to learn about the real world in an active, practical way and it’s therefore important, we believe, that they are supported to use the tools that they will use in the world of work – but within clear guidelines to manage safeguarding concerns.

The United Nations has taken the lead in exploring the potential of AI for Good, with the launch of an initiative in 2020 with the goal of identifying practical applications of AI to advance the Global Goals and scale those solutions for global impact.

Our approach to the use of AI

We recognize that while some schools are embracing AI and are preparing their students for a future in which AI literacy will be essential, many may choose not to at this stage, or may not have the resources or expertise to do so. This will become an increasingly important challenge for schools to address at a time that is right for them.

We have no expectation or requirement for projects to utilize AI, nor do we ban the use of tools as we do not believe this to be an effective strategy in response to innovation. In this respect we are aligned with the International Baccalaureate’s statement on use of AI.  

In terms of AI tool usage, we encourage our member schools to make their own informed decisions, considering the wishes of staff, students, and parents.

It’s important for GSL students to understand that any AI-generated content, including text, logos, images, videos, research or graphs, should be appropriately credited and referenced, just like any other source material in their project report.  While AI technology can be a valuable tool for enhancing project impact, it is essential that students recognize and acknowledge the contributions of these tools to their work.

As we explore how best to integrate AI we are committed to providing the resources and support needed for our educators and students to use AI effectively and responsibly.

We are therefore taking five proactive steps this year to support our GSL member schools, parents, and young people who plan to utilise AI while addressing its potential risks and implications, as follows:

Five steps to support our GSL member schools who utilise AI

  1. Advisory Group:

    We will establish a voluntary advisory group comprised of AI specialists in the fields of AI and education. This group will provide expert insights, guidance, and recommendations on how to integrate AI and will support our community, helping us to address the risks and impacts associated with AI

  2. AI Resource Library:

    We will launch a GSL AI Resource Library, accessible to everyone, that will share best practice, resources, example policies, and signpost further support. This resource will help us all to navigate the complex landscape of AI in relation to project-based learning and social action.

  3. Project Spotlight:

    We will shine a spotlight on projects that have used AI, showcasing their impact and sharing lessons learned, both positive and negative. We will encourage all participating teams to let us know if they have used AI in their projects and to share their experiences, including any challenges faced and insights gained. While we have considered recognizing AI-enhanced projects with awards, we believe that the current focus should be on understanding the impact of new tools on projects, both positive and negative, rather than celebrating their use.  

  4. Community Learning:

    We will create and share masterclasses and add an AI Ask the Expert session this year to our training for students and educators.  We will seek to spotlight within our GSL community members who have best practice to share. We are exploring how we offer further support for engaging parents with AI.  We aim to foster a culture of collaborative learning where we jointly explore and share the benefits, challenges, and risks of AI.

  5. Annual Festival Spotlight:

    During our annual festival, we will invite young people and educators who have used AI tools in their projects to share their experiences and learning in a special spotlight session. This will provide an opportunity for our community to come together, discuss the implications of AI, share insights, and learn from one another.

We believe AI has the potential to enhance the impact of our students’ Global Goals projects on both their own learning and skill development and community impact, and are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to help our community embrace AI in a responsible and informed manner.  

Through responsible and thoughtful integration of AI, we can ensure that our students are not only equipped with AI literacy but also cultivate the human qualities that technology cannot replicate, such as resilience, compassion and a passion for making a difference, which are fundamental to success and wellbeing in our increasingly complex world.

We are extending an invitation to schools, partners, and stakeholders interested in supporting AI in education to reach out to us. If you have expertise, resources, or insights that you believe should be featured in our AI Resource Library, we would be delighted to hear from you.

We believe it’s important for us all to work together to harness AI effectively and ethically and foster the essential human attributes that will empower our young people to thrive in a world where AI will have increasing influence.

GSL AI Advisors

This statement and strategy on AI has been put together with the kind contribution of our expert community: we thank them for their support and guidance.   This includes: 

  • Annabel Gillard – AI Ethics
  • Chris Goodall – Head of Digitial Education, Bourne Education Trust
  • Darren Coxon – Founder of Coxon AI
  • Katy Granville Chapman – Co-founder GSL. Research Fellow, Oxford Character Project. Teaching Fellow, Dept of Ed, University of Oxford. Deputy Head, Wellington College
  • Mara Simmons PHD – Education Strategist Looking To Improve Learning and Teaching Across the Globe
  • Simon Lightman – Head of Philosophy, Politics and RS, King Edward’s Witley
  • Supriya Kulkarni – Human-Centred Design & Ethics by Design
  • Tess Buckley – AI Ethics Senior Analyst at EthicsAnswer

Our consultations have been chaired by Jonathan Harper FRSA, CEO Future Foundations who represented GSL at the Cottesmore AI Festival and has been appointed a panelist on the ‘Lifelong Learning and Future Skills workstream’ for the Epsom-Bourne Protocol.  Jonathan will speak at Anthropy on the topic of the Future of Education and AI.

We will share updates on our approach as we implement the above five steps.  We have included below our first two GSL and AI masterclasses with our advisory group.

Recommended resources

We are developing our resource hub, in the meantime we recommend reviewing the following sources of guidance for how to approach AI in education:

GSL & AI – ADVISORY GROUP INTERVIEWS 

Mara Simmons PHD
Education Strategist

“GSL is taking the lead and modeling what forward thinking educational organizations can do to further students’ and teachers’ experiences with AI. Their strategy is premised on current research and promotes building equity towards a more just world by leveraging students’ experience and their projects contributing towards a growing body of research around the impact of AI on learning. Teaching how to ethically use AI, offering lots of support and building a community of learners will benefit GSL participants now and in their future.”

Annabel Gillard
AI Ethics

“Future Foundations GSL AI strategy is a welcome support to the next generation of social leaders – building confidence and familiarity with these powerful tools, encouraging the ambition to harness their transformative potential, while encouraging responsible and thoughtful use in a collaborative and learning atmosphere. Understanding how to use AI safely and ethically is essential to ensure that change is both sustainable and respectful.”

For More Information

If you have any questions or concerns about our approach to AI or plans for supporting schools who wish to give permission to their students to use AI, please contact: 

• Michelle Horne, Operations Director: michelle.horne@future-foundations.co.uk 

If you would like to contribute to our AI hub or partner with us, please contact:

• Jonathan Harper, CEO, jon.harper@future-foundations.co.uk 

If your school would like to join our GSL membership, click here to find out more.